LoginTighter Rules on Cosmetic Procedures
The Government has announced a crackdown on ‘cowboy’ practitioners in light of growing concerns.
Journal of Trading Standards Staff
Posted 07 August 2025 | JoTS Online
Content Tags: Updates|Health and Safety|National
The Government has announced a ‘crackdown on cowboy cosmetic procedures’ amid growing alarm about unqualified practitioners carrying out high-risk treatments with little or no medical training.
There will also be new restrictions to prevent high-risk cosmetic procedures for under-18-year-olds without the authorisation of a healthcare professional.
Under the Government’s plans, which were announced yesterday (6 August) by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), only specialised healthcare providers that are registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) will be able to perform procedures such as non-surgical ‘Brazilian butt lifts’ (BBLs).
There will also be stricter oversight for lower-risk cosmetic treatments – such as Botox injections, lip fillers and facial dermal fillers – through a planned local authority licensing system. Practitioners will be required to meet rigorous safety, training and insurance standards before they can legally operate, with practitioners who break the rules being subject to CQC enforcement and financial penalties.
The new regulations will be subject to public consultation and parliamentary scrutiny before they are introduced, with priority being given to the introduction of regulations that restrict the most high-risk procedures – such as fillers injected into breasts and genitals.
For too long, we have seen the catastrophic consequences of unqualified individuals administering high-risk procedures in unsafe settings
The public consultation, which will be published early next year, will seek views on education, training standards, qualifications, infection control and insurance.
‘Victory for consumer protection’
CTSI has welcomed the announcement, saying it marks a ‘significant breakthrough for public safety after months of campaigning from CTSI and other stakeholders in the sector’.
According to Duncan Stephenson, Director of Policy at CTSI, “This announcement represents a major victory for consumer protection and public health. We are pleased that the Government has listened to our calls for action and is now taking meaningful steps to regulate what has become an increasingly dangerous and unregulated sector.
“For too long, we have seen the catastrophic consequences of unqualified individuals administering high-risk procedures in unsafe settings. These new measures will help stamp out the worst practices, protect vulnerable consumers, and support reputable businesses who operate to high standards.
“It is good to see that there will be greater oversight and licensing of the practitioners, but alongside this we must also ensure that there are harsh penalties for those who break the law to deter unscrupulous and unqualified amateurs from undertaking fairly complex and invasive health procedures. Alongside regulation of the workforce, we also want to see the products themselves properly regulated as this is a very much a grey area – and that the sale of unlicensed, untested and unsafe products should be removed from online marketplaces and social media platforms.”
Richard Knight, CTSI Lead Officer for Cosmetics and Beauty, is also calling for further action to prevent unsafe products reaching consumers: “I welcome this Plan for Change, but in a constantly evolving aesthetic treatments sector, with a wide variety of products available (from injectable fillers, to fat-dissolving jabs, to IV drip skin lighteners), the devil will be in the detail of what is to be included in the new rules,” he said.
“What appears to be missing is a cross-government Taskforce to look at regulatory gaps in product controls. For example, no rules currently exist to regulate the safety and quality of most dermal filler products, or fat-dissolving injectables.”
The ugly truth
The Government’s announcement comes in light of growing concerns about the risks posed by unlicensed cosmetic procedures, some of which have caused serious harm. Victims of botched procedures – many of them young women who have been influenced by adverts on social media – have suffered burns, infections and nerve damage as a result of incompetently or inappropriately administered treatments.
Last year 33-year-old mother-of-five Alice Webb died after a botched BBL procedure, becoming the first person in the UK to die from the treatment.
There have also been concerns about safeguarding, with disturbing examples of sexual abuse and exploitation of patients while undergoing procedures.
Trading Standards Officers have reported cases of high-risk aesthetic procedures being carried out in wholly inappropriate environments – including homes, hotels, and pop-up clinics.
Recent research by ITV found that half of women who have undergone non-surgical cosmetic procedures required medical assistance afterwards, with 15% ending up in hospital or A&E.
Similarly, a recent Channel 4 News investigation uncovered more than 300 clinics offering intravenous glutathione drips for skin lightening, often with no medical oversight. Many of these were promoted to young people on social media, carried out in unsanitary settings, and administered with no clear understanding of the health risks.
Cheryl Barton, Managing Director and Lead Nurse at cosmetic treatment specialist Aesthetika, is among those who have long campaigned on the issue. She commented: “Such good news to hear today that the Government agrees with what medical professionals have been saying for two decades – that those accessing this sector are often vulnerable and in need of protection and safeguarding from the ‘Cosmetic cowboys’ who frequently prey on their vulnerability.
“Safeguarding must be at the heart of everything we do as doctors and nurses, and the Plan for Change is a welcome step forward.
“I look forward to the implementation of this initiative and fully support the work of CTSI in their call for proper regulation and enforcement to make this a safer space for the public, who deserve nothing less.”
Ashton Collins, Director of accredited practitioner platform Save Face, said: “I am delighted that the Government has recognised the significant and potentially fatal risks posed by highly dangerous procedures like liquid BBLs, and has made it a priority to implement restrictions to protect public safety.
“We have been campaigning tirelessly for nearly two years for this critical change and have supported over 750 women who have endured traumatic experiences. I have seen firsthand the devastating impact these procedures can have on the lives of victims and their families — none more so than the family of Alice Webb.
“We look forward to continuing to work closely with the government and key stakeholders throughout the next stages of this process, to build a safer landscape for the public and promote high standards across the industry.”
Minister of State for Health Karin Smyth said in a statement: “The cosmetics industry has been plagued by a Wild West of dodgy practitioners and procedures. There are countless horror stories of cosmetic cowboys causing serious, catastrophic damage.
“This government is taking action to protect those seeking treatments, support honest and competent practitioners, and root out the cowboys as part of our Plan for Change.
“This isn’t about stopping anyone from getting treatments – it’s about preventing rogue operators from exploiting people at the expense of their safety and keeping people safe. We’re giving them peace of mind and reducing the cost to the NHS of fixing botched procedures.”
CTSI’s remaining priorities for safer aesthetics
Tackle Unsafe Products Sold Online: While progress has been made in regulating practitioners and treatment settings, there remains a serious lack of attention on the regulation of the aesthetic products themselves. Many injectable substances – such as glutathione – continue to be sold online with no checks on safety, legality, or medical suitability. CTSI is calling for urgent enforcement action to remove unlicensed, untested, and unsafe products from online marketplaces and physical sale, and for greater regulatory scrutiny of the substances being used in procedures.
Strengthen Age of Sale Protections: While CTSI welcomes the Government’s commitment to introduce age restrictions on treatments to protect children from dangerous beauty trends promoted online, we believe this must go further. We are calling for a clear, UK-wide minimum age of sale for high-risk aesthetic procedures – in line with protections already in place for tattoos and sunbed use – to prevent young people from accessing unsafe or inappropriate treatments.
Establish a Cross-Government Taskforce: To coordinate future reform, tackle product safety, and align approaches across all four nations, CTSI is calling for a Ministerial-led Taskforce. This should include representatives from DHSC, devolved governments, regulators, and enforcement agencies to address the most urgent gaps in product and practitioner regulation.
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Content Tags: Updates|Health and Safety|National
